To the northeast of this area lie the Khomas Hochland Highlands, a relatively undramatic but significant range of granite hills whose climate is rather less harsh than in much of the rest of the country.

In a broad valley amongst these hills lies Windhoek, the pleasant modern capital of Namibia, where the majority of visitors to the country end up spending a night or two during their trip, whilst connecting through the international airport, some 20km to the east.

Visitors who prefer to avoid the city but who still need to overnight with a short drive of the airport may be tempted by the outlying lodges covered here in the Windhoek Environs section.

Around 250km to the south lies the town of Mariental, where there are some reasonably interesting accommodation options amongst the striking longitudinal dunes of the Kalahari and which can be used to break the journey to and from Fish River Canyon in the deep south of the country.